Description
Article no.: 29094
This NiSi Athena Prime Add-On kit includes three E‑mount cine primes designed for filmmakers who need consistent exposure and precise focus pulls. The set contains 18mm T2.2, 40mm T1.9 and 135mm T2.2 Athena Prime lenses, plus a hard case sized for nine Athena lenses. The lenses share matched mechanical and optical characteristics across the Athena series to simplify lens changes during production.
The Athena Prime series covers focal lengths from ultra-wide 14mm to portrait 135mm across the full lineup, allowing a wide variety of shooting scenarios. Within the series, several focal lengths share the same maximum T-stop ratings for uniform exposure:
These T-stop ratings measure the actual light transmission through the lens and help maintain consistent exposure when switching between focal lengths in the Athena range.
The Athena Primes provide a 46mm image circle. Therefore, they suit full-frame cameras and larger format sensors within the supported mount options.
The Athena Prime series is available in multiple mount options: ARRI PL, Canon RF, Sony E, Panasonic/Leica L and Fuji G. The lenses include a proprietary rear filtration system with different implementations depending on mount:
Important notes:
NiSi also provides weather sealing for the Drop‑In filter to protect the filter mount in challenging conditions.
The Athena primes are designed for consistent handling across the series. Most lenses share the same 77mm front filter thread, with the exception of the 14mm lens. Both aperture and focus rings are matched across the range to ensure a uniform feel when switching lenses.
The Athena Primes are designed to deliver low chromatic aberration and controlled micro‑contrast, which supports finer image detail across the frame. The lenses also minimize focus breathing, keeping field‑of‑view changes during focus adjustments extremely small from minimum focus distance to infinity.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Included focal lengths | 18mm, 40mm, 135mm (E‑Mount) |
| Maximum apertures (series) | T1.9 (25/35/40/50/85), T2.2 (18/135), T2.4 (14) |
| Image circle | 46mm |
| Mount options (series) | ARRI PL, Canon RF, Sony E, Panasonic/Leica L, Fuji G |
| Filter thread (front) | 77mm on all lenses except 14mm |
| Focus rotation | 300° |
| Focus scale | Fluorescent scales in imperial and metric units |
| Gear standard | 0.8 MOD focus and iris gears |
| Drop‑In / rear filter | RF/L/G: Drop‑In; E: optional Drop‑In version; PL: rear filter |
Question: Will these E‑mount lenses work with a Sony FX9 if I choose the Drop‑In version?
Answer: No. The Sony FX9 cannot use the E‑mount version that includes Drop‑In filters. Choose an E‑mount lens version without Drop‑In or confirm compatibility with your camera before purchasing.
Question: Do I need to rebalance my gimbal when swapping Athena lenses?
Answer: In most cases no. Athena lenses are similar in weight across the series, so you generally do not need to rebalance when switching between Athena primes, which speeds up lens changes during shoots.
Question: How do I ensure infinity focus when using rear or Drop‑In filters?
Answer: To achieve infinity focus and obtain clear images, you must use the Drop‑In clear filter on RF, L, G and E mounts (when using the E‑mount Drop‑In version) and the rear filter on PL‑mount lenses. Using the correct filter configuration is required for proper optical performance.
Question: Can I use standard follow focus systems and matte boxes with these lenses?
Answer: Yes. Athena primes feature standard 0.8 MOD focus and iris gears and matched aperture/focus rings, so they are compatible with a wide range of follow focus units and matte box systems.
Question: Is there a way to get closer focus or macro effects with these lenses?
Answer: Yes. NiSi offers a 77mm close‑up lens (sold separately) that reduces the minimum focus distance and enables macro‑style effects on Athena lenses that use a 77mm front thread.